Search
Advanced search
Filter by category
Filter by committee
Search results
-
ASTM International, one of the largest voluntary standards development organizations in the world, announced the approval and availability of a new standard for collecting, packaging, and transporting visible powder samples suspected of being biological agents. ASTM E 2458 ,, Standard Practices for Bulk Sample Collection and Swab Sample Collection of Visible Powders Suspected of Being Biological Agents from Nonporous Surfaces, is the first standard to address the subject. E 2458 incorporates reference guidance to comply with appropriate federal regulations regarding biosafety and biosecurity. The standard is applicable to nonporous surfaces only., Cooperative Interagency and Stakeholder Effort, The development of a sample collection standard was initiated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in order to address the problems associated with haphazard sample collection and screening. DHS assigned the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to coordinate and lead a task group whose charge was to develop a standard protocol for the collection of powders that are…, ASTM Committee E54 on Homeland Security, Currently there are over 500 stakeholders in Committee E 54 on Homeland Security, representing diverse groups including first responders, manufacturers, suppliers, trade and professional associations, and federal, state and local government. The committee was first organized in 2003. E 2458 is the third standard issued by Committee E54 on Homeland Security, and the first standard of Subcommittee…, Two-Step Procedure, E 2458 is a two-step procedure that is performed after an initial risk assessment is conducted and a visible powder is deemed a credible biological threat. The first step of the procedure, or Method A, covers the bulk collection and packaging of the suspicious visible powders from solid nonporous surfaces. Bulk samples are collected and transported in a manner that permits public health and…, Sample Collection Procedure Proven to Work, A study was conducted in March 2006 to validate the reliability of the sampling procedure at the U.S. Army Dugway Proving Ground. The study demonstrated that the sampling procedure can be used by trained Emergency Responders in simulated emergency conditions to consistently recover samples. The study also proved that sufficient number of Bacillus anthracis spores can be detected by Emergency…, after, all bulk samples have been collected. The evaluation study was designed to determine the recovery efficacy on seven environmental surface types that included stainless steel, food-grade painted wood, rubber, tile, concrete, finished wood, and plastic. The study involved six teams that included four National Guard Civil Support Teams (CST), the Navy’s Chemical Biological Incidence Response Force (…, Contacts, ASTM standards are available from Customer Service (610-832-9585); https://www.astm.org/contact/ ) or the ASTM web site store ( www.astm.org ). For further technical information, contact E54.01 Chairman Alim A. Fatah, Program Manager, Chemical Systems & Materials, Office of Law Enforcement Standards, NIST (phone: 301/975-2753; alim.fatah@nist.gov ). The next meeting of Committee E54 is Jan.…
-
The rapid growth and variety of rides being developed within the water park industry has created a need for new standards to regulate the design and installation of water slides. While individual states within the United States had created rules and guidelines for water slides, these often varied greatly from each other. A new standard developed by ASTM International Committee F24 on Amusement…
-
Proposed New ASTM International Homeland Security Standard to Provide Preparedness Plans for SchoolsThe mass murder at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colo., in 1999 brought the subject of school security into the U.S. national spotlight and subsequent events, including other school-related incidents and the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, have kept it there. A proposed new ASTM International standard will help schools and school districts prepare for and mitigate against both large-scale…
-
Robots have a long and storied history in science fiction, but the rapid advance of technology has placed robotics very much within the realm of science fact. A new ASTM International initiative has now been launched that will investigate the role of robots in search and rescue operations. ASTM International has recently been selected by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to develop a…
-
Although ASTM International Committee E56 on Nanotechnology was just established this year, it has already begun an ambitious program of developing new standards. Committee E56 is currently developing the following proposed standards, which deal with environmental safety issues, hemolytic properties and particle size measurement. Interested parties are invited to participate in the development of…, WK8985, Guide for Handling Unbound Engineered Nanoparticles in Occupational Settings, Academic, government and industrial laboratories are currently performing nanotechnology research and development and the scope and breadth of this work is expected to grow dramatically. Manufacturing processes involving nanomaterials have begun and commercially available nano-based products have been introduced. All of this activity in the nanotechnology realm has created the need for the…, WK8997, Practice for Analysis of Hemolytic Properties of Nanoparticles, Subcommittee E56.02 on Characterization has begun working on proposed new standard WK8997, Practice for Analysis of Hemolytic Properties of Nanoparticles. This proposed standard would provide a suitable procedure for establishing the safety of nanoparticulate materials that will be used in vivo , such as nanoparticles for therapeutics and diagnostics. "Nanotechnology products will be used in…, For further technical information, contact Scott McNeil, director, Nanotechnology Characterization Laboratory, Frederick, Md. (phone: 301/846-6939; mcneils@ncifcrf.gov )., WK8705, Measurement of Particle Size Distribution of Nanomaterials in Suspension by Photon Correlation Spectroscopy (PCS), Subcommittee E56.02 was formed to answer questions regarding characterization, such as size and shape of materials. Another proposed new standard under the jurisdiction of Subcommittee E56.02 is WK8705, Measurement of Particle Size Distribution of Nanomaterials in Suspension by Photon Correlation Spectroscopy (PCS), which deals with the vital issue of size characterization. The purpose of the…
-
A new ASTM International subcommittee, E54.08 on Operational Equipment, is devoted to the development of standards related to operational equipment for chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive (CBRNE) incident response. The subcommittee, which is under the jurisdiction of Committee E54 on Homeland Security Applications, defines operational equipment as specialized equipment…
-
A longtime need for better standardization and testing of sporicides has led to the approval of a new ASTM International standard, E 2414, Test Method for Quantitative Sporicidal Three-Step Method (TSM) to Determine Sporicidal Efficacy of Liquids and Vapor or Gases on Contaminated Carrier Surfaces. The newly approved test method, under the jurisdiction of Subcommittee E54.03 on Decontamination,…
-
Open Meetings and One-Day Workshop in May, The National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) in Japan has become the latest organization to sign a partnership agreement with ASTM International to develop a terminology standard for nanotechnology. AIST is an Independent Administrative Institution (IAI) in association with the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI). AIST represents an amalgamation…, Partnerships Prove Beneficial, An early priority for the recently formed ASTM International Committee E56 on Nanotechnology is the development of a globally relevant, industry-driven terminology standard. In an effort to facilitate this objective, ASTM International has signed partnership agreements with the Institute of Electrical & Electronics Engineers (IEEE), the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), NSF…, Attendance Encouraged at Open Meetings and Workshop, Interested individuals are encouraged to attend the next meeting of Committee E56, which will take place May 16-18, 2005, in Reno, Nev., at the Hilton Reno Resort. Following the meetings, on May 19, at the same hotel, Committee E56 will cosponsor a Workshop on Characterization of Nanomaterials for Medical and Health Applications. The workshop will provide a structured venue to address critical…
-
ASTM International, one of the largest voluntary standards development organizations in the world, announced the formation of a new committee to develop international consensus standards, definitions, terminology, and procedures covering nanotechnology. A branch of science and engineering that deals with things smaller than 100 nanometers (1 nm equals one-billionth of a meter), nanotechnology may…, An early priority for Committee E56 is the development of a globally relevant, industry-driven terminology standard for nanotechnology. In an effort to facilitate this objective, ASTM has signed partnership agreements with the Institute of Electrical & Electronics Engineers (IEEE), the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), and NSF International. These agreements focus solely on the…
-
ASTM International Subcommittee E54.05 on Building and Infrastructure Protection has reorganized itself to better reflect the needs of industry. The subcommittee is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E54 on Homeland Security Applications. "The reorganization focuses the efforts of the subcommittee more along the lines of various disciplines and areas of interest seen in industry," says Curt…